[JURIST] Iraq's Justice Ministry [Global Security backgrounder] said Sunday that it anticipates US authorities will release six detained Iraqi women this week despite US denials [JURIST report]. An anonymous Justice Ministry official said a review board made up of six Iraqi officials and three US officers met on January 17 and agreed to release the prisoners. The official suggested that US hesitancy may be related to the kidnapping of journalist Jill Carroll [CNN profile; CSM update]. Carroll's captors have threatened to kill her unless all female Iraqi detainees are released. It is official US policy not to negotiate with kidnappers. Reuters has more.